Delegates from around 100 countries are meeting in Geneva to negotiate a global treaty aimed at reducing plastic pollution. Richard Thompson emphasizes the need for urgent systemic action beyond waste management. While the EU supports comprehensive measures, oil and gas exporters like Saudi Arabia and Russia prefer limiting the treaty's scope. Thompson calls for ambitious targets addressing the entire life cycle of plastics, including regulation of harmful chemicals and ensuring sustainability. The negotiations are set to conclude on 14 August, following a lengthy process that began in March 2022.